Chapter 6423: The Spirit God Clan’s Honor

Chapter 6423: The Spirit God Clan’s Honor

“Are there any other choices?” Shen Hui asked.

“There are none,” the voice replied.

More than a thousand red needles appeared in the majestic hall. They corresponded to the number of Spirit God Clansmen.

Shoosh shoosh shoosh!

The red needles shot forth and pierced the Spirit God Clansmen.

A brief silence later, piercing screams rang. The Spirit God Clansmen were in so much pain that they couldn’t even stand stably. They dropped to their knees and bums, with some even lying on the floor, clutching where they were impaled while convulsing nonstop.

Shen Hui was the one who coped the best in her clan. She didn’t wail, but she gritted her teeth and sweat trickled down her pale face.

A red light flickered in the majestic hall, and countless more red needles appeared. There had to be at least a million of them.

“A thousand needles for each person. That’s the price you have to pay. But if you give up on Chu Feng now, you’ll only have to endure nine needles,” the woman said.

“Lord Shen Hui!”

Many looked at Shen Hui with pleading eyes. A single needle was already unbearable; enduring a thousand of them was unimaginable. Their minds would be crushed even if they survived this ordeal!

But Shen Hui continued to hesitate.

“Lord Shen Hui, it’s one thing if we do this for Lord Xue Ji, but is it worth undergoing this for Chu Feng, too? We don’t owe him anything! He’s not the one who broke the formation trapping us!” a clansman said.

Many agreed with her.

“Don’t forget the mission of our Spirit God Clan. This is Lord Xue Ji’s order,” Shen Hui replied.

But her words failed to convince her clansmen.

“But he isn’t the one who rescued us! I’m not afraid of death. I would willingly lay down my life for Lord Xue Ji. But Lord Xue Ji is not here, and I don’t think it’s worthwhile for me to die for Chu Feng. Lord Shen Hui, I beseech you to reconsider your decision. Our lives mean something as well!” a Spirit God Clansman exclaimed.

This placed tremendous pressure on Shen Hui. It wouldn’t make sense for their clansmen to lay down their lives for Chu Feng.

In the first place, the Spirit God Clan was different from mortals; they were worthy of being deemed gods just by virtue of their bloodline.

“There is a price for hesitation. You don’t get to choose anymore,” the woman said.

A formation suddenly descended from the sky.

Spirit power converged to form a window, and within the window was another palace that resembled theirs. There was only one person inside that palace—Chu Feng.

Chu Feng had a knee on the floor and was gasping for air. He was drenched as if he had been caught in a torrential rain. Sweat droplets rained down from him. Even his eyes were bloodshot.

“Lord Chu Feng?”

The Spirit God Clansmen’s hearts clenched up. They had even forgotten about the pain they were in. They noticed countless red needles scattered on the ground behind Chu Feng—there were a thousand of them.

Chu Feng didn’t collapse or even let out a howl despite having taken a thousand needles?

The Spirit God Clansmen were taken aback.

A spirit formation gate appeared behind Chu Feng.

“What’s this?” Chu Feng asked.

The woman replied, “You have overcome the trial of a thousand needles. You may leave now.”

The Spirit God Clansmen paled in despair. They realized that they didn’t have the option to offset the punishment to Chu Feng anymore and that they had to withstand the punishment of a thousand needles, too.

But Chu Feng didn’t leave via the spirit formation gate. “Where are my companions?”

“They have to suffer the same punishment as you,” the woman said.

“I’ll take it on their behalf,” Chu Feng said.

The Spirit God Clansmen, including Shen Hui, couldn’t believe what they had heard. Even the woman was startled, and she only asked after a momentary pause, “Are you saying that you’ll take the thousand needles for them?”

“That’s right,” Chu Feng replied without hesitation.

“How many of them will you take the punishment for?”

“All of them.”

“All of them? You should think it through. They have to withstand a thousand needles each. Do you know how many needles you have to take if you wish to take all their punishments?”

“I know.”

“Are you tired of living?” The woman’s voice was tinged in disbelief.

“I’ll survive. And so will they,” Chu Feng declared.

Shen Hui was dumbstruck.

The Spirit God Clansmen had conflicted feelings, especially those who had urged Shen Hui to give up on Chu Feng earlier. They hadn’t known Chu Feng for long, and there were no deep ties between them.

It would have been reasonable for Chu Feng to give up on them, just like how they had given up on Chu Feng.

“No wonder Lord Xue Ji says we’re more suited to follow Lord Chu Feng. I see it now,” Shen Hui said with a smile.

The Spirit God Clansmen didn’t speak a word, but determination gleamed in their eyes.

“You are a tenacious one, but you don’t get to choose. The final call lies on them,” the woman said.

The two windows aligned, allowing Chu Feng to see the Spirit God Clansmen as well.

Shen Hui said, “I’ll take on my share of the thousand needles.”

The other Spirit God Clansmen voiced her words, “We’ll take on our share of the thousand needles, too.”

Chu Feng looked at their pale faces, as well as the single needle behind them, and hurriedly interjected, “Shen Hui, you won’t be able to withstand it. Let me take it on your behalf. I was the one who got careless and made a mistake. I ought to take responsibility for this.”

Shen Hui shook her head. “No.”

She stood up and led the Spirit God Clansmen toward the window.

Chu Feng was intrigued. He sensed a subtle change in the gazes of Shen Hui and the Spirit God Clansmen.

“Lord Chu Feng, there is something I have not told you.

“Our Spirit God Clansmen’s ‘Shen (God)’ surname was bestowed upon us by our first master. Since our master left, we have been scattered over the world of cultivation. Our master has left a formation with each of our lines, and if someone succeeds in deciphering that formation, we’ll have to pledge our loyalty to that person.

“Lord Xue Ji has not only saved us but also deciphered that formation, but she refuses to be our master and instead recommended Lord Chu Feng. That’s the true reason we sought you out. We had our reservations regarding this, as Lord Chu Feng wasn’t the one who deciphered the formation, and we couldn’t make up our mind whether to view you as our master.

“But now, we have made up our minds.”

Shen Hui kneeled. The other Spirit God Clansmen followed her. All of them kowtowed to Chu Feng at the same time.

“Paying respect to master!”

Before Chu Feng could respond, the Spirit God Clansmen stood up. Shen Hui said, “We’ll take our share of the thousand needles. Please begin.”

“You’ll die!” Chu Feng exclaimed.

“Even if we die here, we’ll make sure you survive,” Shen Hui replied.

“If you truly acknowledge me as your master, you ought to listen to me. I’ll survive even if I take your share of the punishment. I order you right now to heed my order,” Chu Feng said.

He believed this was his responsibility, and he didn’t want anyone to suffer for his mistake.

But Shen Hui replied, “Lord Chu Feng, you are the first master we have acknowledged since the Ancient Era. There has been a teaching passed down within our line.

“If our master’s life is not compromised, we will prioritize our master’s orders.

“If our master’s life is compromised, we will prioritize our master’s safety.

“It’s our greatest honor to lay down our lives for our master.

“And it’ll be our greatest shame should we cause the death of our master.”